A 43-year-old Indian expatriate in the UAE died of cardiac arrest in Ajman after a routine badminton session on Wednesday night, his family has confirmed. His death comes just days after another Indian expat collapsed and died while playing cricket in Dubai.
Anwar Sadiq, a father of two from Kerala who had been living in the UAE for around 15 years, had attended his regular badminton game with friends on June 17, according to his brother-in-law, who spoke to Gulf News from Kerala.
During the session at a court in Ajman, he reportedly complained of pain in his left hand and stepped away from play. His family said his blood pressure had appeared normal at the time.
He later rested and drank a lemon soda before deciding to return home. However, he collapsed in his car in the parking area shortly afterwards.
Fellow players immediately rushed to assist, calling an ambulance and attempting first aid while waiting for emergency services. Despite their efforts, he could not be revived.
A family friend, Anas M, said the death certificate listed cardiac arrest as the cause of death, with the time recorded at 9.51pm. He also noted that Anwar was a familiar figure in his community both in Kerala and in the UAE, where the two families lived close to each other.
Anas described him as a regular at badminton sessions and said that while he was soft-spoken, he was active within his social circle.
Paying tribute, he said Anwar was “like an elder brother” and well-liked by those who knew him.
He added that the turnout at the embalming and funeral prayers in the UAE, as well as at the final rites held in his hometown in Kerala after Juma prayers, reflected the strong affection people had for him.
Anwar worked as a procurement manager at a company in Sharjah and lived in Ajman with his wife and two school-going children. His mother and two younger sisters reside in Kerala. The family has also endured a previous tragedy, as his father reportedly died of a heart attack while working in Kuwait more than a decade ago.
Community volunteers assisted in repatriating his remains to Kerala, where he was laid to rest. Some relatives based in the UAE also travelled home for the funeral.
His death comes amid concern after another Indian expat, Safwan Shanu from Karnataka, died of a heart attack while playing cricket in Dubai on Sunday morning. According to Gulf News, he had been playing a strong innings before collapsing suddenly on the field.